Fallible
/ˈfɔːləbəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Fallible describes someone or something that can make errors or be incorrect. It shows that nobody or nothing is perfect and mistakes can happen. This word is often used to remind us that errors are normal in humans or systems.
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See It in Action
Able to make mistakes or be wrong
- •Everyone is fallible, so we should forgive each other's errors.
- •Even experts are fallible and can give wrong answers sometimes.
- •The fallible nature of memory means people often forget details.
Not perfect or reliable all the time
- •The fallible machine sometimes breaks down unexpectedly.
- •Fallible systems need regular checks to avoid errors.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "fallible" like "can make mistakes," but as a single word that means "not perfect."
- ✓Picture a person trying to solve a puzzle but sometimes putting pieces in the wrong place.
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize you made a small error in your homework or when someone apologizes for a mistake.
- ✓Sounds like "fall-able" → imagine something that can "fall" or fail, so it is not strong or perfect.
- ✓Think of stories where heroes make mistakes but still try their best—fallible heroes are more real and human.
- ✓NOT like "perfect" (no mistakes at all), fallible means mistakes are possible or likely.
- ✓NOT like "infallible" (which means never wrong), fallible shows the opposite: able to be wrong.
- ✓NOT like "careless" (which means not careful), fallible just means mistakes can happen, even if careful.
Try Other Words
- •Imperfect: not perfect, having faults (Use when talking about general lack of perfection)
- •Error-prone: likely to make mistakes (Use when emphasizing frequent mistakes)
- •Unreliable: not able to be trusted all the time (Use when focus is on trust or dependability)
- •Human: showing natural ability to make mistakes (Use to emphasize natural, normal errors)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "fall-" relates to "fall," meaning to fail or make a mistake
- •Suffix: "-ible" means "able to be," so fallible means "able to fall (fail/make mistakes)"
- •Origin: From Latin "fallibilis," from "fallere" meaning "to deceive or fail"
- •First used in English in the 15th century to describe people or things that can fail or err
- •Today it is used to describe human nature or objects that are not perfect or always correct
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be fallible but still trusted? How do you decide when to trust fallible people or things?
•How does knowing everyone is fallible help us be kinder to ourselves and others?
Fill in the blanks
1.People are fallible, so it is normal to ___ mistakes sometimes.
2.A fallible machine needs ___ to work well and avoid errors.
3.Unlike perfect tools, fallible tools can ___ or break unexpectedly.
4.When someone is fallible, they may feel ___ after making a mistake.
5.Fallible means able to be ___ or wrong, not always correct.
6.We should be patient because even experts are fallible and can ___.
7.The phrase "fallible memory" means our memory can ___ details or facts.